Words I Wish

Someone Had Said to Me As a Kid

By Bill Zimmerman
Creator, MakeBeliefsComix.com

Art by Tom Bloom

 Words I Wish
Someone Had Said to Me As a Kid

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By Bill Zimmerman & You

Art by Tom Bloom

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 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me As A Kid
By Bill Zimmerman

Copyright 2014 by William Zimmerman

Drawings Copyright 2014 by Tom Bloom
All rights reserved under international
and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
No part of this book may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form In memory of
or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, my parents and my cousin Ruth.
recording, or otherwise, without express written permission Dedicated to the children in my life.
of the publisher, except for brief quotations or critical reviews. B. Z.
Book design: Barbara Berasi
The author welcomes your comments and suggestions
that you would like to see included in future editions.
Please write: William Zimmerman, Guarionex Press Ltd.,
201 West 77 Street, New York, NY 10024.
Thank you.
For other books by Bill Zimmerman,
visit http://www.billztreasurechest.com
or http://www.makebeliefscomix.com
Dear Reader, this free e-book at MakeBeliefsComix.com because so many girls and
boys regularly visit the web site and I wanted to reach out and be
I wrote this book of encouraging words to help young people as
there for you. It is my hope that you and your friends will
they make their way in the world. All girls and boys need to
turn to the book whenever you need a good word or
hear such words. I know I did.
when you are feeling lonely or unsure.
You see, I lost my father when I was very young and missed
At the end of each thought in this book, you will find a question to
hearing the words that a child needs to hear from his or her dad.
help you think more deeply about what you have read and about
Growing up, I tried hard to imagine the things he would have
your life.There is even space there for you to write your own thoughts
said to guide me if he were around. A few years ago, right before
directly onto the computer screen and into this book, which is in an
Fathers Day, I longed for my dad very much, and to seek comfort
interactive PDF format.You can save what you have written or print
I began writing a letter from him to me, saying some of the things
out the pages you wish. Other pages encourage you to write letters
which I so wanted to hearthat he was proud of the person I had
of support to yourself or to someone you care about. This e-book
grown up to become and that he loved me very much.
also links to an essay I have written,Words Fathers Need to Say and
Writing the letter helped me that day and I continued to write Boys Need to Hear, published in our 4Parents section.
more letters in the voice of a father talking to a child. In time,
The words offered here are as truthful as I know; they represent all
these letters grew into this book to inspire children.
that I have learned from my own lifes experiences.Writing them
If youre a young person reading this book, think of each page allowed me to create something positive from the many worries and
as a personal letter of caring words from me to you, cares I had in growing up. I hope you will find the books thoughts
like the ones an older friend or relative might say to you. If you are a caring and hopeful, too.
parent or teacher, you may find some of the thoughts offered echo
Yes, deep down I still wish my father had been able to express some of
what you may have said to a child in your life, or perhaps they will
these words to me. But because he couldnt, I did the next best thing: I
give you new ideas for future personal messages.You can also read
simply wrote the words I would have liked for him to have said to me.
and discuss the books thoughts with a young person.
And now, I share them with you. Perhaps one day when you are
All the words in this book are encouraging in nature because I know grown you will say them to the children in your life.
full well that none of us ever hears enough of them in life.They
Yours in friendship and goodwill,
are the ones I have said or written to young people in my own life,
including my daughter, my younger sister, my niece and nephews
and children whom I have taught over the years. I decided to offer
Bill Zimmerman
Creator, MakeBeliefsComix.com
The Words Begin...
 What Every Parent Wants for a Child Remember These Words

If I could, I would give you

a basket of happiness Every time
that you could reach into you do your best,
all your life. you make someone
proud of you.

Every time you try your best,

be proud of yourself.
If I could, I would never allow pain to enter your life,
Every time you are kind and unselfish to others,
If I could, I would keep you in my pocket
be proud of yourself.
to make you feel safe,
Every time you work hard to master a problem,
If I could, I would plant seeds of joy in your soul,
no matter how difficult
If I could, I would make you believe that no hope
or how discouraged you may feel,
is impossible to attain,
be proud of yourself.
If I could, I would catch your sweet dreams and
Every time you hold your anger in check
save them for you,
and try to work out a solution to what hurts you,
If I could, I would grow beautiful colored flowers that blossom for you in the snow,
be proud of yourself.
If I could, I would borrow the songs of birds to give to you when you feel sad,
As much as I wish to, I cant be with you all the time to say these things,
If I could, I would jump through hoops of fire to free you from dragons,
so you must remember to always take pride in the way you conduct
And, if I could, I would steal away all your doubts to bring a smile
yourself.
to your face.

What would you do for your own child? What do you take pride in?
(type here) (type here)

1 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 2
 Advice I Wish Someone Had Given Me A Wish For You

You are always

in someones heart; May you meet people
you are never alone. who will be kind to you.
Dont be afraid.

Dont be afraid. You will be all right

in life. Just have trust in yourself
and each time, when you are afraid, May you meet someone special
reach deep within you to gather today
the courage you need to overcome who makes you smile
your fears. and feel good
Every human being is fearful at times, about life and about yourself.
not just you, and each of us must fight And may you also be
to retain our humanity and courage. No that someone special
one is exempt from this battle, no matter to another.
how pretty or handsome or smart or physically
strong. Each of us must struggle with our life, for it is the Thats my wish for you today.
struggle that forms us as human beings.
You have much courage in you, if only you will look. Take comfort
in your strength.

What is the best advice that was given you? Who is special to you?
(type here) (type here)

3 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 4
 Keep on Marching Theres No One Like You

You can always

Always remember
overcome a problem
how special you are
with time and effort.
in your own way.

I believe that in life we get second

and third and even more chances.
Sometimes we make mistakes and
fail in our early attempts to reach a
goal. Sometimes we just stumble. But
that never means all is lost.
I know from my own experience, whether
in working through a family problem or
having trouble in school or even losing a job, that
there is always another chance to succeedthat is, if
we can pick ourselves off the floor and keep working toward the goal we have
set. Maybe well need to take a different path to reach that goal, but inch by inch,
step by step, we creep toward that elusive goal until it is right there before us
and we finally grab it and make it ours.
Yes, it takes grit and sticktoitiveness to not allow failure to overtake us or sap
our spirit. So just keep marching on and never look back!
When youre feeling lost and isolated,
child, hold on. Listen to the voice within
you that says you are special. No matter
what people say about you or do to you they
cant take away your good qualities.
Think about this for a moment:
there is no other person like you on earth.
There is no one who sees things the way you do,
who thinks your thoughts, who feels the way you do. While we
all share some things in common, each of us sees the world
through our own lens. Each of us has a particular sense of
awareness that makes us who we are. That specialness is a gift
which you must treasure and be thankful for.

What is an important goal you have set for yourself? What is an important goal you have set for yourself?
( TYPE HERE ) ( TYPE HERE )

3 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid

5 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 6
4
 You Aint Seen Nothin Yet Make the World A Little Better

If you give yourself fully

Try hard to make things
to your goal
better in life.
you can accomplish
Each of us has
all that you hope for.
this responsibility.

Sometimes, child, when we find

ourselves a little lacking, it might be a
good time to look at our baby pictures
to recall all the progress we have made
in lifefrom taking our first baby
steps to becoming the person we are
today. Remember how you first had
to learn how to crawl, then stand on
shaky legs and begin to walk.Then
you learned how to speak and make
yourself known, and later to read.
All of these were monumental tasks when you first undertook them, but you
accomplished them so well since that time when the early photos were taken.
These are just the beginning of a long life of firsts and achievements that will
make up your life in the many years ahead of you. Just remember that everything
takes its own time to learn, so be patient with yourself as you master other new
firsts.
What has been your hardest-won achievement so far?
(type here)
Whatever you do in life, try to make the
world a better place. Try to be kind to people
who need you. You have much goodness
in you to offer others.
A funny thing about kindness and
lovethe more you give, the more
comes back to you. You become richer
in spirit. Child, there is so much pain
in the world and you have it in you
to make things better for others.
What can you do to make life better
for someone or something?
(type here)

7 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 8
 Dont Ever Lose Your Dreams
Have big dreams!
You have a lifetime
to achieve them.
Be true to your own internal vision of how
you want things to be. Believe in yourself
no matter if some reject your ideas. Your
ideas and imagination are to be trusted
they belong to you and represent the best
in you.
Yes, test your vision and ideas against re-
ality, but believe, too, that you can always
fulfill some of your dreams if you are will-
ing to fight for them with all your heart.
Never ever lose belief in what you yearn
for. Never ever give up! Sometimes all
you have are your hopes and dreams, and if you surrender them, or allow
someone to take them away from you or put them down, then you will be
lost. Your ideas are a gift to be treasured.
Think of a dream you have. What is it?
(type here)
9 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid
Words to Encourage You on Your Journey
Never underestimate
the strength within you
it is waiting to come out
when you call
upon it.
There will be days when you will wake up feeling
overwhelmed by all that you have to do
so many pressures on you. You realize that you
just dont have all the answers. I have known
this feeling, too.
When you feel this way, please pause for a
moment. Then reach down deep within you
and you will find all the strength that resides within
you. You must believe in yourself and in your abilities. Just try
to take things one step at a time, and you will see, things will
fall into place.
What strengths do you have?
(type here)
Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 10
 Be Your Own Good Friend
Love yourself
in the same way you love others.
You are worthy of such love
and need to take
good care of yourself.
Hold your own hand. By that
I mean be your own best friend.
Sometimes when it may seem that
there is no one there to love and
help you, thats when you need
to reach out to yourself and offer
a helping hand. Such times you
need to treat yourself as you would
someone who is in need of encour-
agement. This means silently offer-
ing yourself a comforting word or
two, or even a warm smile. Maybe what I am saying is that we need
to recognize and honor ourselves from time to time.
Say some good words to yourself.
(type here)
11 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid
Time to Do Your Funny Monkey Dance
Always try to find
laughter and joy in life
to ease your way.
Dear child,
Can you laugh at yourself? Can you
enjoy the foolishness within you?
Must you always take yourself so
seriously? Arent humans some-
times like the little chimpanzees
you see at the zoo, scrambling
and scurrying around, leaping into
the air, tumbling and making silly
sounds. They make you smile just
thinking about them, dont they?
They take you out of yourself and
help you remember to be happy
and silly at times. Let your heart become a little lighter as you do
your own funny monkey dance. Make time to enjoy your life fully.
What is an important goal you have set for yourself?
(type here)
Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 12
 A Loving Prayer
May life be good to you.
From far away I lay my hands
on your head and bless you, child.
May the spirit of the universe,
the spirit of nature, love and
protect you and strengthen
your heart throughout your life.
May only good things happen
to you.
Who worries over you? Who do you worry about?
(type here)
13 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid
Be Strong Like a Gentle Labrador
The strongest people I know
are those who are caring
and who help others.
When I was a young boy I always
worried whether I was macho
enough. Did I have what it takes to
be a man? Now, so many years later,
I can say to you that it is not impor-
tant to worry about this. Just be
yourself. The strongest people I know
are those who are kind and gentle.
It takes real strength to believe in
yourself and to do the right thing for
others.Yes, you can play the game
and swagger or speak gruffly if you
feel you need to, but deep inside be a gentle labradortheyre
really the best because they have good souls and are the strongest!
Whats your definition of being strong?
(type here)
Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 14
 What Is Courage? Sweet Thoughts for a Child

Each of us has more courage

than we think;
we just need to work hard May you always
to put aside our fears reach for the stars.
which hold us back.

Courage is a funny thing. You never know if youll

have it in you until the time comes when you need it.
May your dreams be sweet
But dont worry too much about how courageous you
arejust try to do the right thing when the situation when you sleep,
arises, when you see the need to help someone or to May you always find time
work out a reasonable solution to a hard problem. to leap with frogs,
Sometimes the most courageous acts seem to be
May you find treasures
the simplest acts, such as overcoming your fear of
someone different from you and trying to help that when you walk the seashore,
person, or trying to learn a new skill which you dont May you live to hold new life
think you are capable of learning or too afraid to try. in your hands,
Its a matter of going ahead even when youre least sure of yourself.
May you one day
When I was young, perhaps the most courageous thing I did was to overcome my
fears and help care for my father in his last days. He was separated from my mother fly to the moon,
and lived apart from us, and after school I would visit him when he came out of the May you have a chance
hospital to keep him company. I was sometimes afraid to be with him because he to swim with dolphins,
was so weak and frail and because he had changed so much from the strong, healthy
man I had once known. I was afraid I would lose him and it upset me to see him so May much of what you wish for come true.
weak. But I saw he needed me and I overcame my fears and did my best to comfort
him. Helping him helped me become less afraid.

What is the most courageous thing you have done or hope to do? May you............
( TYPE HERE ) ( TYPE HERE )

15 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 16
 Love Makes You Leap
May you
love someone
as deeply
as you are loved.
When you find someone to love or care
deeply about, leap with joy for you will find
your heart growing bigger as you discover
the fullness of both your natures. Love means
giving of your heart and soul to another, of
showing the other respect and gentleness.
Love never means taking over another person
or bossing them around, just as you can never
really own a flower. Yes, you can nourish that
flower with your love, you can admire all its
beauty and splendor and gasp at its loveli-
ness. But you cannot pluck it and hoard it just
for yourself. If you do, it will shrivel and waste away.
Love and affection mean sharing what you have to offer with another
person or creature who will do the same for you. And by doing so, you will
both grow stronger and happier.
Who has shown their love to you? Whom do you love?
(type here)
17 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid
Finding Your Passion
Dont settle for second
choice in life: always reach
for something better.
Dear child,
If you want to have the fullest, best life
possible, then find your passion and go
for it. Find the interest or work you can
take pride in and which fully engages
your imagination and your heart and
which gives you meaning.
Too many people are told to be practical
and to give up their dreams for something
less. But passion, in my book, is what
counts. Maybe you wont make a ton of
money, maybe every step you take to real-
ize your passion will be hard. But you will
be a content person, not getting lost in
what could have been.
Do you know people who had to settle in life? What do their sad faces tell
you? Passion for something you love will always get you through the hard
timesthats how powerful it is. May you find the thing in life that you were
meant to do.
What is an important goal you have set for yourself?
(type here)
Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 18
 Something Important to Think About This Is What I Believe

Remember to stand in awe

at the wonder of the
world and nature. I believe that each of us
Enjoy every precious can make a positive
moment. difference in the world.

Never take for granted the beauty and wonder

of the world.
There is a reason why they were put here for us to
behold.
Stand outside and look for a moment at the light of the sun.
Go to the beach and watch the wide ocean, wave after I believe that hope is with us forever.
wave after wave. I believe in the healing sunshine.
Feel the breeze on your face. Smell the freshness of the air. I believe in the wild and loving heart
Listen to the sounds of a sea shell.
that beats in each of us.
Go to a park and smell a beautiful flower or look at the trees.
I believe in rainbows.
Then wonder how all these beautiful, wonderful things came
to be. What was the reason for them? Wonder how you and all the other people I believe in the narcissus that bravely
came to be. Think of what role you will play in the world. Think of the Spirit, the Force blooms in cold winter.
which created our universe, and stand in awe at their mystery and majesty. Where I believe in music and laughter and song.
do we fit into the grand scheme of things? I believe that things always get better if we will them to be.
Think big things, oh son, oh daughter, for you must try to measure up to the wonder I believe in the kindness of people that waits to come out.
of our universe. Be the best you can be. Be the kindest you can be. Be the lovingest
you can be. Be worthy of your sacred life.

Name one thing that amazes you. I believe

( TYPE HERE ) ( TYPE HERE )

19 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 20
 Giving Can Also Fill You Up A Divine Mission

Never hold back. We must honor the life

Give yourself fully we are given by using
to whatever you do. our time here
as well as we can.

Look around you.

You will find some people are takers, others are givers.
The takers are always hungry for something
love, power, food, money, possessions.
The givers are the providers, the nurturers, the Dear one, why do you think
unselfish ones. We all have a little of each in us, we were put here on earth?
but deep down I hope youll be more a giver Do you think each of us
in life rather than a taker. You see, there is so has a divine mission to fulfill?
much pain and need in the world. Our job is to Id like to think so, to believe
do the best we can to make the world a little better that there is a reason for our
than when we found it. lives that is tied up with
A funny thing about givingthe more you give, the more ultimately comes back to making the world a beautiful
you. Isnt it wonderful to see someone who has been able to grow a little stronger place in which to live.
and happier because of your kindness and support? Imagine what kind of world
wed have if everyone reached out to someone else and had their back? How
much better things could be!

Who has been giving to you? In what way? Who have you given to? How would you like the world to be?
(type here) (type here)

21 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 22
 It Pays to be Stubborn
Never take no
for an answer.
No is a closing of the door,
yes is an opening
to something better.
Heres something to think about:
Sometimes being stubborn is a good thing,
despite what others may say.
By that I mean taking an attitude that you
wont give up in trying to achieve your goal
even if people say that youre crazy or its im-
your dreams to come true. I remember being
told many times in my life not to do certain
things, or that they couldnt be done. But I refused to listen and needed to try things
my way. Many times I was right. Other times I failed, but I learned from my mistakes.
Nothing lost here. You use your perseverance to stay in the game as long as you can.
Sometimes, though, to reach a goal you need to take smaller steps, rather than great
leaps.You approach that goal over a period of time and you use your orneriness to
keep you going and focused on your goal. Your hard work will pay off, I promise you.
( TYPE HERE )
23 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid
Coaching Yourself
You have a responsibility
to be the best you can be,
as hard as that may be.
We cant all be Kings or Queens of the World,
but each of us can be our very best, like majesties
over our own personal domains. Always try to set
high goals for yourself. This will make you stretch
and grow. But dont set them so high that they
become unattainable and leave you frustrated.
Yes, you can make demands on yourself to be
better than you are today, but also realize that
you need to make time to develop the skills you
need to realize your dreams.
Everything, including the writing of this book for you, took practice, practice,
and more practice. In writing it, I experienced moments of doubt and had to
talk myself through the problems and be my own coach. I would urge myself
on, reminding myself that this hard work was important. All goals are never
reached at once. It takes much toil to gain the skills and ability you need to
fulfill your ambitions. Most of all, you need to believe with all your heart in what
you are doing.
What new skills would you like to master?
( TYPE HERE )
Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 24
 Its Important to Ask Questions
Never be afraid
to ask questions
that is the only way
you can learn.
Learn to ask questions of the people whom
you meet. A writer once said her mother
told her that when entering a room of new
people to ask at least 10 questions of each
of those whom she met. By doing so, she
would show that she was really interested
in learning about those whom she encoun-
tered, but even more important, she would
learn new things that she hadnt known.
Some of these things might be interesting, some helpful.
That goes for interviews, too. When you apply for a position, try to answer the inter-
viewers questions as well as you can. But dont be passiveit is also a time for you
to learn more by asking questions about the position or how the person interviewing
you got to where they are today. Such information can be useful, and your question-
ing is a way for you to display your own curiosity and intelligence, traits which any
employer values.
What important question would you like to ask someone?
(type here)
25 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid
Asking for Help
Dont be afraid
to ask for help.
Most people are giving
and want to share what they
know with you.
Its okay to ask for help. Theres nothing
wrong in showing others that you dont
know everything or that you need help in
finding answers. Yet, asking for help was one of
the hardest things for me to do when I was a kid.
Maybe it was because I didnt trust many adults or
lacked self-confidence. But by acting that way I cut
myself off from a lot of learning which could
have come in handy later on.
Sometimes it may take a lot of courage to ask for
help. Many of us dont like to show our weakness
or ignorance to otherswe feel well be judged as
lacking. But, just remember, we arent born into this
world knowing everything. We need time to learn all
the things that go into making us good, capable human beingswe pick up this
knowledge day by day, bit by bit, and by asking questions.
Each day I have new questions for which I seek answers. It doesnt make you less
of a person to seek advice and help from others whom you respect.
What do you think is the most important piece of information
youve acquired so far in your life?
(type here)
Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 26
 Learning the Bs Giving What You Need

Be kind to others.
There is so much pain The more you give,
in the world. the more will come back
to you.

I read about an educator who encourages kids

to learn the Bs. Some of his Bs include: A poet, Anne Michaels, once said,
BE responsible. I see that I must give what I most
BE on time.
need. Her words have always
BE friendly.
BE polite.
stayed with me. Think about them.
BE a listener. I take them to mean, for example,
BE a tough worker. that if you feel very alone or, maybe
BE a goal setter. unloved, then you might consider
befriending someone who may
I like his idea and decided to add a few of my own
feel alone, too. Maybe its an older
Bs for you to think about:
BE caring.
relative you know, maybe its an
BE generous. animal who needs to be taken care
BE hopeful. of. I think of my dog, Nena, whom I adopted after she had been abandoned
BE helpful. and kept in a cage for four months at the dog pound. She looked so forlorn and
BE loving. alone. All she really needed was a little love, and in return she unselfishly gave
BE a good person. me what I needed most, toolove and companionship.

Your turn: BE (you fill in the rest) What is it you need that you might be able to give others?
(type here) (type here)

27 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 28
 Taking Responsibility
The more responsibility
you take on,
the stronger
you become.
Someone once wrote that each of
us must be the drivers of our own
car. The writer means that each of us
is responsible for pointing ourselves in
the right direction and for our actions.
We should not allow our friends or peers
to dictate to us what we should do or
how we should act to others. Weve got
to decide for ourself what is the right thing
to do. This reminds me of what the fabled
mountaineer, Edmund Hilary, the first person
to climb Mount Everest, once said: Its not the
mountain we conquer, but ourselves.
What mountains in your own life do you want to scale?
(type here)
29 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid
Keeping A Personal Journal
Make time to think about your life
and your experiences. Doing so will
help you understand yourself better
and make better decisions.
Give some thought to keeping a journal to record your
journey through childhood and life. It will be a safe place
you can retreat to, where you can record your deepest
hopes and yearnings, even your fears. Everyone needs a
refuge where they can turn to, to catch their breath and
figure out their life. A little notebook will do the trick.
Carry it around with you during the day, or
if youre fearful youll lose it, then keep
it in a protected place at home. Come
to it each day to keep in touch with
your heart or to see what troubles you or
makes you so happy. Record the amazing
things that happen to you, the laughter you
hear, the jokes, even the sad things because they
are all a part of your life and affect you in every way.
Writing in a journal becomes a way of breathing and bringing
light to your soul.
What one thing happened to you this week
that youd like to remember?
(type here)
Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 30
 Your Power to Change the World
You have more power
than you think you have
to make a difference
in someones life.
When I was very young I never felt that I had much
power. My daydream back then was to one day work
charge of something. (As a child I felt in charge of noth-
success and make important decisionsall of them
rightand that would make me powerful. But that
was a long time ago, and Ive come to realize that
each of us, no matter how young or small, has the
power to make a difference in the world.
How?, you may ask. Say you help one person this day,
even to make them smile or laugh, and that person
in turn makes another person smile or laugh, and then
that person makes another one smile ....well, you get the
other people who then pass on what they feel or experience to others. So, youre the key to a
chain reaction that can echo throughout your neighborhood, throughout your city, your state,
your country, then cross the oceans and go around the world. I bet you didnt know you had
this power, did you?
What is the one small act you might do today to change the world?
( TYPE HERE )
31 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid
Taking Stock
Take pride in yourself
and in the way
you conduct your life.
Dear child, think about the things which you do well
and which you are proud about. Is it your great love
of reading and all the books which you have already
read in your young life? Is it your amazing collection
of postage stamps or bottle caps? Is it your ability to
catch a high fly ball? Is it your beautiful singing voice?
Or your ability to speak more than one language?
Each of us needs to take pride in the things we do
well or in the new skills were acquiring. This
is particularly important as we struggle to
learn new things, some of which may take time
to master. If we can feel good about the things we
have worked hard to learn, then we will have more confidence to tackle new
challenges. Thats why its important now and then to take stock of how far
we have come.
What are some of the things you do well?
( TYPE HERE )
Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 32
 I Know Youll Pass the Really Important Tests
You will be tested
throughout your life.
Just try your best,
thats all one can ask.
I was surprised to read that two people whom I
admire, Winston Churchill and the Reverend Martin
Luther King Jr., did not perform so well in school.
They were not great test-takers, and it was said
that King did not have great verbal skills. Can you
believe that? One became a great leader in Great
Britain who helped keep the world free from the
Nazis, and the other, through his soaring words
and actions, led a great civil rights movement that
freed us all.
So as you prepare for your own tests remember
these great men and keep things in perspective.
Study hard and prepare well. But these tests wont tell the whole truth about you
they wont get the full measure of your strengths and abilities. The real tests will
be how well you will confront problems in life and get through them, how you will
live with others, no matter how different they are from you. I know deep down you
will try to do the best that is in you.
What big challenges do you face in your own life?
( TYPE HERE )
33 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid
Searching For Heroes
Be the hero
of your own life.
Son, daughter, its good to look up to heroes in life
for they can teach us much about becoming
outstanding human beings. The heroes who mean
a lot to me are the ones who try to make the world
a little better, who care about people and living
creatures. It makes good sense to learn about the
life stories of these people and to try to assume
some of their traits. But maybe, we also need to
begin thinking about becoming the heroes of
our own lives. We need to try to be brave and
courageous as we tackle the particular problems that we encounter daily and do
our very best to solve them. We are all are capable of becoming heroic, too.
Step outside of yourself for a moment and observe your own actions. Are they
the deeds of a person whom you would respect? If you can say so, then you are
indeed becoming a hero to yourself.
Who is your hero? What brave deed have you done?
( TYPE HERE )
Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 34
 Someone Is Thinking About You
There is always
someone in the world
who cares about you.
Never forget that.
There is someone in the world who has
so many hopes and dreams for you.
There is someone in the world who
often says a prayer for your well-being.
There is someone in the world who
smiles when they think of you.
There is someone in the world who
can better bear all the pain that life brings
because you are part of their world.
There is someone in the world whom
you make happy just by your being you.
Believe this.
Who do you think about with happiness?
(type here)
35 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid
If I Could
If I could,
I would give you all the stars
in heaven.
If I could, I would give you the moon to hold,
or fly with you to the clouds.
If I could, I would ask the hummingbirds
to come to your room at night to hum you
to sleep as they beat their wings.
If I could, I would bring butterflies
to your classroom to bring smiles
and delight to your face.
If I could, I would build a bridge
of rainbows upon which we could walk
across the ocean.
And, if you COULD, what wonderful thing would you do?
(type here)
Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 36
 Whats Your Vision?
Try to find something
you feel passionate about.
It will see you
throughout your life.
Try to think about the type of person you
want to become in life. Have a vision of your-
self a year from now, or even five, ten years
down the road. Maybe you should take a few
minutes to write down the characteristics or
traits of the person you want to be. Do you
want to brave? Strong? Kind? Loving? Gentle?
Funny? Do you know people with these traits?
If so, use them as your role models to come
closer to how you want to be. Visions can
indeed come true if you work to fulfill them.
Carry around that piece of paper with your
vision of yourself and refer to it from time to time when you feel a little lost or adrift.
It will give you strength and help steady you. Maybe, even, consider writing a letter to
the person you will be 10, 15 years from now. What would you say?
This is my vision of the person I wish to be:
(type here)
37 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid
Listen Carefully
Be sensitive to the needs
of others.We need to step
outside of ourselves
to understand others.
Are you a really good listener? I ask this
because I once read about a teenage boy
who took a vow of silence for one whole
year. He said he did so because I noticed
I wasnt really listening to people. I was
just waiting for people to stop talking so
I could chime in.
When a person talks to you, does he have
your full attention, or only a small part?
The highest compliment you can pay to
someone is to listen fully to what she is
trying to tell you. This way you convey
that you feel what she has to say is im-
portant. Isnt that how you want to feel when you talk to someone, too?
One thing more. We listen with our hearts as well as our ears. Sometimes a
person may say one thing to us, but he really means something else. Thats why
its important to listen carefully and ask ourselves what deep down is that per-
son really telling us. This means we must always trust our instincts, the gut feel-
ing we have about others. Such feelings always protect us and never lie to us.
Whos the best listener you know? Who has truly listened to you?
(type here)
Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 38
 Can You Look Below the Surface?
Try to put yourself
in another persons shoes.
They are as special as you.
They laugh and cry and
have fears as you do.
I have a best friend who sometimes ex-
presses shame about her skin color and the
way she looks. I tell her she is as beautiful
on the outside as she is on the inside, but
somehow she still cant fully accept what
I say and is often unhappy with herself.
Maybe she is that way because she suffered
so much discrimination as a child. I tell you
all this because I believe we need to accept
people for who they are, not what we
want them to be. People cant change their
skin color, or their ethnic origin, or their
religion, nor should we want them to. And
neither can they make us change from the way we were born into the world.
The thing we can change, though, is our attitude and the way we respond to others who
are different in some way from us. We can respect others for who they are and not expect
them to change for us. We need to look under the surface to find the human being we
can relate to and become a friend to or love. If we were all born blind into the world, we
couldnt easily distinguish the physical differences between one another. And without be-
ing able to see, wouldnt we get to know others in a deeper way, through our hearts, our
minds, even our touch? Must we be blind in order to accept one another fully?
Who is the human being under your surface?
(type here)
39 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid
Imagining Youre Someone Else
Respect others
in the same way
you want them
to treat you.
You can do anything you want with the
help of your imagination. You can fly, you
can soar. You can transform the people you
meet into gladiators or princesses or wizards
or into anybody you want. Your imagination
is your way out of prison, it will always deliver
you to a special place, a wider world.
But in the real world, too, use your imagi-
nation to try to see whats really inside of
people, whats under their surface. Maybe
under the strict demeanor of your teacher is a person who loves her school
children so much and makes great demands on them because she wants them to
achieve a great deal. Maybe under the surface of the bus driver who yells at kids
to be quiet is also a father who feels very responsible for the safety and well-being
of all his children on the bus. Maybe hidden inside a bully at school is a person
who never seems to get enough love at home and who carries sadness in her
heart which she turns into rage against others. This doesnt excuse her actions,
but maybe it helps you understand her better.
Can you see the world through someone elses eyes?
(type here)
Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 40
 Having an Open Heart
Care for all
living creatures.
Each has a role
in our universe.
Have reverence for all of life,
from the tiny ant
to the white dove
to your fellow human
who wanders the land
the way you do.
Each living creature
needs to be loved
and honored,
for each is a part
of the chain of life.
What things do you revere?
(type here)
41 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid
Always Keep a Dream in Your Wallet
Hang on to all your dreams
no matter what hardships
life brings to you.
As you plug away each day, child, dont forget
to keep a big dream or two alive in your heart.
I know in my own life that dreams are very
important. They keep us going no matter
what bad things befall usand they give us
the strength to try new roads! When you stop
dreaming or hoping you begin to dry out
and lose the joy of life. You dont want that to
happen to you, do you? So, take a moment and
write your special dream down on paper, then tuck
it away in your wallet to look at from time to time.
Itll make all the hard work youre going through right now a little easier
to bear and it will strengthen your wonderful spirit.
What dream(s) do you carry around?
(type here)
Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 42
 Quick, Hide That Grouch!
Try to master your anger
so that it does not
take you over
and destroy you.
No one loves a grouch. This is because
people have their own problems and dont want to
put up with others bad humor. One person may be
worrying about an ailing child, another fears losing
his job, another has a sick parent on her mind or
is not feeling well herself. That is why we need to
learn how to put on a positive face no matter how
bad we may feel.
Yes, you may be sad or angry inside, but in dealing
with others it may be best to try to put on a good
front. In so doing, you prove that you can control your feelings when necessary, and that you
can interact effectively with othersso important in school and work. I am a firm believer in
recognizing and accepting ones feelings (good and bad), but in working with and managing
many people over the years, I also know how important it is to be able to work harmoniously
with others.We just cant give in to the upset in our souls and make other people miserable.
In controlling and working through our anger and problems, we take charge of our lives and,
over time, grow stronger.
What is the best way to get out of a bad mood?
(type here)
43 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid
Practice Your Dream
Practice, practice, practice.
Everything good that you
want to achieve will take
practice.
Something worth considering: keep a special space in
your head for your visions of the important things you
want to accomplish in your life. You see, before you can
make a dream come true, you must go over it again and
again in your head, scoping it out, plotting out how you
will achieve what you want. Your visions are necessary,
for as you visualize what you want, you are actively re-
hearsing how to get there. You are priming your heart
and your body to take the necessary steps to realize
your dream. But remember, fulfilling a dream doesnt
happen overnight. Great visions take time and hard work and patience to come true.
I once read about the habits of an Olympic swimmer who won a gold medal. The
nights before her races, while lying in bed preparing for sleep, she would rehearse the
race she planned to swim. Lap by lap, second by second, she practiced her meet. Her
mental preparation was as important as the physical practice she did daily in the pool.
So remember, first comes the vision, then followed by the hard, sweaty work of prac-
ticing and learning a new skilland if we are deserving, we can achieve much, if not
all, of what we seek. In my own life, I have discovered that the act of trying to realize
a goal is perhaps even sweeter than the victory. But see for yourself!
How do you envision yourself 10 years from now?
(type here)
Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 44
 Honor
Only do things
that will make you feel
good about yourself.
Dont sully your
reputation.
A good name is one of the most important
things you can have in life. By that I mean you
want to be known as a person who will keep her
word and treat others with respect. You want
to do deeds that will not bring shame to you or
your family. When you go out into the world you
represent all of your family, not just yourself, and
you want your actions and the way you conduct
yourself to bring credit and admiration for
you from all. That is what I mean when I
use the world honor.
The other day I read the obituary of
a man who was persecuted for crimes which he did not commit. Because he
was falsely accused, he lost his job and suffered much pain. But he persisted
in trying to prove his innocence. Years later, it was found out that all the
charges against him were false. Afterward, someone asked him how it felt to
have his honor restored. He answered, I never lost it.
So if you live truthfully and fight for what you believe in, you, too, will never
have anything to be ashamed about.
Which characteristic do you respect?
(type here)
45 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid
Learning to Bounce Back
You can recover
from defeats and losses
if you keep your will strong
and refuse to give up.
I want to share a new word with you todayresilient.
It may be one of the most important words to know in
lifeit means being able to spring back to the original
shape or position even after being twisted or
stretched out of shape.
Problems and hurts in life can twist us or leave us,
initially, with a bowed head or spirit.The key is to find
our strength so we can spring back. Even after death or
war, people who have suffered great loss find, with time, that
they can carry on with their lives and build a new future. I learned this
myself when my father died when I was a boy. His loss was terrible to me and I
missed him with all my heart. But what kept me going was my memory of him
and my belief that he would want me to be brave and try to lead a useful life.
So I tried my best and moved ahead.
Now, all of life will not be easy for youit is never for anyonebut when bad
things happen you do have this great power in you to heal and bounce back
as you pick yourself off from the floor and continue on with your life. There-
fore, I urge you to be resilient.
When have you shown resilience in your own life?
(type here)
Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 46
 Keeping Hope Alive
Try to always keep
the candle of hope
alight in your life.
That will help you survive.
I believe that no matter what bad
things we are handed in life, we
need to keep hope alive in our
hearts. We have to believe that
things will get better and we must
be prepared to work to get things
moving our way. If we cave in to
whatever hurt or suffering each of
us inevitably will experience over
the course of our life, we will lose
then the chance to find happiness.
Hope is like a little birthday candle
which we must cup with our hands
to prevent the wind from blowing out. If we have hope, then we can do any-
thing in life.
What are some things you hope for?
( TYPE HERE )
47 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid
For When You Have A Bad Day
Focus on the things
that you are grateful for
in life; it does no good to
focus on the negative.
Sometimes there may be days when you feel bad and
even a little defeated (we each have such days). When
this happens take a sheet of paper and write down some
of the good things in your life. Maybe theyre goals which
you have accomplished, maybe theyre people who love
you or have been good to you or can make you smile.
Maybe its a wonderful book youve read (learning to
read is a major accomplishment BIG TIME). Maybe its
a dream you have. I know that writing these things down
wont necessarily take away all of the pain or worry you
feel that day, but doing so will help balance the scale
a little better, so that the bad will be matched by the good.
Writing about what you are grateful for will give you a better
perspective, too. By that I mean everything in your life is not bad even though you may feel a little
that way sometimes. Everything in life has two sides to it -- thats what makes things so interesting.
Keeping a list of good things, too, will restore your courage.You see, when we feel overwhelmed with
problems or bad news, we tend to forget the good in our lives. Recording our accomplishments
helps reinforce the truth that we will have good experiences again in the future, and that this cur -
rent bad phase is just a small bump along the long road.
What are some good things about your life?
(think hard, you have them, I know you do)
( TYPE HERE )
Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 48
 A Few Parting Words for A Young Person
A Place for Your Own Loving Words
for Yourself or Someone You Care About
Be grateful
(type here)
for the good
you have in your life.

Always try to do your best.

Work to keep hope alive in your heart.
Dont take no for an answer.
Trust what your heart tells you.
Be gentle and kind. Above all, be kind
because there is so much pain in our world
and never enough love to go around.

What comforting words would you want to say to a young person?

(type here)

49 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 50
 A Place for Your Own Loving Words A Place for Your Own Loving Words
for Yourself or Someone You Care About for Yourself or Someone You Care About
(type here) (type here)

51 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 52
 Believe in yourself.
Never give up! About the Artist
Tom Bloom is an artist who has brought joy
to the world with his cartoons and illustrations
About the Author which have appeared in many publications,
such as The New York Times, The New Yorker,
The author of two dozen books,
Fortune and Barrons. He has collaborated
Bill Zimmerman has pioneered
with Bill on many other books.
innovative writing techniques to help
people find their writers voices and
express all the important things within them. His other free
interactive digital books are:
Laptop Letters: Writing Notes of Love & Encouragement
to Young People in Your Life
Share With Us
Hummingbird Joy: A Book of All the Things That Make You
Happy Your feedback on using this book
is very welcome. Please be en-
Make Beliefs to Spark Your Imagination couraged to send your thoughts
He is also the creator of MakeBeliefsComix.com, the online comic or suggestions on how we can
strip generator that is used by youngsters, parents, and teachers in improve this book, along with
more than 200 countries to teach literacy and to encourage your permission to use your
creative thinking. The site was selected by UNESCO and Google ideas. For every idea used, a free write to:
as one of the world most innovative projects to foster literacy and copy of one of Bill Zimmermans Bill Zimmerman
reading. His other web site, http://www.billztreasurechest.com, books will be sent to you. Per- Guarionex Press Ltd.
features excerpts from all his books. Please visit the sites. haps you will even want to share 201 West 77th Street
A news executive all his life, Bill was senior editor at Newsday news- with us some encouraging words New York, NY 10024
paper where he created a nationally syndicated educational page that were said to you or which E-mail: wmz@aol.com
for young people that was twice nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and you have said to others. We each
developed comic books to teach news and history. need such inspiration in life.
53 Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid Words I Wish Someone Had Said to Me as a Kid 54
 Other interactive digital books
from MakeBeliefsComix.com:

Laptop Letters:
Writing Notes
of Love & Encouragement
to Young People in Your Life

Hummingbird Joy:
A Book of All the Things
That Make You Happy

Make Beliefs
To Spark Your Writing

Make Beliefs
to Spark Your Imagination
By Bill Zimmerman & YOU
Art by Tom Bloom

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